AkzoNobel Wins ADS Sustainability Award for Chrome-Free Primer

AkzoNobel Aerospace Coatings has secured the Sustainability Future Award from Airbus Defence and Space (ADS) following the rapid six-month qualification and delivery of a new chrome-free aircraft primer. The recognition, presented at the Air Power Global Supplier Conference in Ottobrunn, Germany, in May 2026, highlights the supplier’s capacity to meet stringent environmental targets while supporting planned production increases.

According to a press release from AkzoNobel, the new primer reduces the reliance on hazardous materials in aerospace manufacturing without compromising required corrosion protection and durability. The accelerated six-month development timeline aligns with Airbus’s broader sustainability ambitions and its strategy to ramp up production volumes across multiple aircraft programs over the next three years.

Scaling production for future demand

To support the anticipated increase in ADS manufacturing output, AkzoNobel is scaling its global production capabilities. The company demonstrated its ability to rapidly industrialize the chrome-free primer for multiple aircraft classes, ensuring a steady supply-chain as Airbus responds to customer demand.

This global scaling effort follows a €50 million investment announced on December 18, 2025, to upgrade AkzoNobel’s aerospace coatings facility in Waukegan, Illinois. The two-phase project at the company’s largest aerospace production site includes capacity increases, new machinery, and automated processes designed to reduce lead times and support higher-volume deliveries.

Industry collaboration and technological integration

The award underscores a broader push within the aerospace sector to eliminate hexavalent chromium and other hazardous substances from aircraft production and maintenance. Frédéric Perret, Global Key Account Lead at AkzoNobel Aerospace Coatings, noted the significance of the accelerated timeline.

“This award reflects the strength of our collaboration with Airbus Defence and Space and our shared commitment to advancing more sustainable aerospace manufacturing. Qualifying and industrializing chrome-free technologies at this pace, while demonstrating the ability to support future production ramp-up, is an important milestone for the aerospace industry,” Perret stated.

Beyond chemical formulations, AkzoNobel has recently expanded its technological portfolio to optimize coating maintenance. On April 29, 2026, the company launched the Iris CMX, a drone-based inspection tool developed with Donecle to measure aircraft coating performance across fleets. Perret added that alongside chrome-free innovations, the company has continued to strengthen its wider sustainability performance to maintain its position as a top-performing supplier for Airbus.

AirPro News analysis

The six-month qualification period for a new aerospace primer is notably brief, reflecting intense pressure on original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and their Tier 1 suppliers to resolve supply chain bottlenecks while simultaneously meeting tightening environmental regulations. As Airbus Defence and Space prepares for a three-year production ramp-up, securing a reliable, globally scalable source for compliant coatings is a critical step in preventing future delivery delays. We view AkzoNobel’s recent €50 million infrastructure investment in the United States as a direct enabler of this rapid industrialization strategy.

Sources: AkzoNobel Media Releases